15:55 Ascot

Saturday 7 September 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 2m 33.24s

(8)

Cap Francais³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 100

9/1

Won two races in 2018 (1m) and highly tried this time around. Has to bounce back after being tailed off at Goodwood (1m4f, good) five weeks ago but some fair efforts before that in pattern company. Another handicap debutant who has been gelded.

Form: 11-2479

(14)

Persian Moon⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99

7/1

Has had a busy year including making the frame at the Royal meeting and being placed in two Listed races. Beaten in four handicaps, however, off similar marks and vulnerable to unexposed rivals.

Form: 472672

(13)

I'll Have Another²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98

16/1

Had been a mixed bag this year after a good two-year-old campaign but back to form with a career-best at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) three weeks ago. That was against her own sex and will find it tougher back against the boys, down in trip.

Form: 636631

(6)

Cirque Royal¹⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 96| D

5/2

Looked an exciting prospect after two easy AW wins earlier in the year. Not seen since hacking up at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) six months ago but gelded since and warrants serious consideration on handicap debut for leading connections.

Form: 211

(11)

Travel On^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 93| D

16/1

Won at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) back in March but beaten in three runs since. After three months off, he was fourth at Kempton (1m4f, Polytrack) recently and whilst there were positives to be taken from that, he needs to improve.

Form: 42-1454

(9)

Baasem³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 92| D

11/2

Up a total of 20lb after a 7L win at Lingfield (1m3½f, good to firm) and 14L win at Doncaster (1m4f, soft) the last twice. This is harder still but difficult to say with certainty that there isn't more to come from him.

Form: 74-7611

(7)

Never Do Nothing²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| D

13/2

Likeable, consistent and mildly improving type. Ran well in defeat over C&D on his last two runs after winning at Goodwood (1m4f, good) in June. Likely to run to form and has good claims of making the frame.

Form: 332132

(2)

Apparate⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Varian| OR: 89

8/1

Improving steadily and was just touched off at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) 56 days ago. Off the track since and that form hasn't been franked but if resuming his improvement, he could shake up the market principals.

Form: 2-5132

(4)

Rhythmic Intent²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J F Egan| T: S C Williams| OR: 84| D

12/1

Broke his maiden at Newbury (1m4f, soft) comfortably last time out but was beaten in three handicaps before that off lower marks than today. Two best efforts have been on soft ground and will need rain to help his chances.

Form: 3-32031

(10)

Holy Kingdom²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: Darragh Keenan| T: Tom Clover| OR: 82| BF

9/1

Mild improvement came to halt when too keen in finishing fifth at Newmarket (1m4f, good) three weeks ago. May be better suited to a better gallop and bigger field and maybe has an each-way squeak if back to his best.

Form: 5-62225

(3)

Zuba¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J Quinn| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 80| BF| D

25/1

Won narrowly at Kempton (1m4f, Polytrack) in early August and matched that when fifth over C&D (good) shortly after. Below his best when last of five back at Kempton (1m4f, Polytrack) last time and needs a jolt of improvement to be involved.

Form: 363155

Non-Runners

(5)

Court Poet¹⁰⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: C Appleby J: B Doyle

(1)

Faylaq⁵⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: Dane O'Neill

(12)

Fox Vardy¹⁵

Weight: 8-2| Age: 3

T: M Meade J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Cirque Royal (5/2), Faylaq (4/1), Baasem (11/2), Never Do Nothing (13/2), Persian Moon (7/1), Apparate (8/1), Holy Kingdom (9/1), Cap Francais (9/1), Court Poet (11/1), Rhythmic Intent (12/1), Travel On (16/1), I'll Have Another (16/1), Fox Vardy (16/1), Zuba (25/1)

A very good race with some improving types lining-up. Preference is narrowly for FAYLAQ to return to winning ways after a short-break. His second over C&D last time was decent but it was his third outing in as many weeks and there's still more to come now freshened up. It's hard not to be impressed by the two wins of Cirque Royal and now gelded, on handicap debut, he is open to more improvement whilst Never Do Nothing is admirably consistent and could make the frame at a fair price.